Keeping small children from drowning

What to know A child who falls into water usually does not scream or splash; they go under silently, in moments. Most drownings happen in a pond, ditch or canal near home, while adults are busy with work. A small child can drown even in the little water of a bucket or basin.

At home and around it - Never leave a child under five alone near water, even for a moment. Agree in turns who watches them while others work. - Fence the pond or ditch beside the house, at least on the child's way to it. - Empty buckets, basins, drums and water tanks and turn them over, or keep them covered. - Keep a fenced-in place for the child to play, or have a few families of the neighbourhood take turns minding the children together.

Rivers, boats and swimming - Put a life jacket on a child in a boat or launch. - Have school-age children taught to swim by someone trained, in a shallow, safe place, watched by adults. - Even children who can swim do not go into a pond or river alone, or as a group, without adults.

If someone is drowning - Unless you can swim and know rescue, do not jump in. Hold out a long bamboo pole, a rope, a gamchha or something that floats (an empty drum, a banana trunk), and shout for help. - Once out, if the child is not breathing, call 999 at once, and if you are trained, start rescue breaths and CPR. - Do not hang the child upside down or spin them to get water out; it wastes precious time. - Take the child to hospital even if they come round.

For a child in danger, the child helpline 1098. In an emergency, 999.